I would like to max out my next iPad Pro 12.9, is it worth it if i plan to use it for more than 4 years?
how long should I expect it to run solid for?
how long should I expect it to run solid for?
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iPad Pro What's the lifespan of the iPad Pros?
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I'd say 4 years is pretty fair.
I'm currently using a 2017 iPad Pro 12.9 512GB LTE. It still performs well albeit it's gotten more prone to reloads/out of memory crashes ever since iPadOS 13.
Honestly, I've just been feeling the upgrade itch. Otherwise, I expect the 2017 iPad Pro could still last me a couple more years.
I'm currently using a 2017 iPad Pro 12.9 512GB LTE. It still performs well albeit it's gotten more prone to reloads/out of memory crashes ever since iPadOS 13.
Honestly, I've just been feeling the upgrade itch. Otherwise, I expect the 2017 iPad Pro could still last me a couple more years.
4 years should be fine. The iPad Air 2 is still supported, and that's like 6 years already.
Just max out the storage according to your budget.
Four years would be the minimum. My iPad before my current one was 7 years old and still worked fine for my needs.
iPads last pretty well.
I got the first generation iPad at launch in 2010, and used it daily for years. I still have it tucked away in its box.
I replaced it with the first generation 12.9” iPad Pro in early 2017 (although it was first released in 2015). That one is still very usable for me, and I’m about to return it to Apple for a battery replacement. I expect it to be usable for a couple more years (although major IOS updates will cease at some point I guess).
I got the first generation iPad at launch in 2010, and used it daily for years. I still have it tucked away in its box.
I replaced it with the first generation 12.9” iPad Pro in early 2017 (although it was first released in 2015). That one is still very usable for me, and I’m about to return it to Apple for a battery replacement. I expect it to be usable for a couple more years (although major IOS updates will cease at some point I guess).
I expect an iPad Pro to support at least 5-6 years of software updates.
Whether the battery is able to last that long though, is another issue, since Apple doesn’t do battery replacements for it.
My iPad Pro 10.5 2017 is still fast enough for my needs. And it has been 3.5 years since i bought it. the only problem was that the battery had been degraded too mucg so i had the device replaced by Apple by paying the battery replacement fee. I can probably use the replacement for another 2.5 years.
I am waiting for a Pro 12.9 though because basically i don’t carry it outdoors so more screen would be nice.
I am waiting for a Pro 12.9 though because basically i don’t carry it outdoors so more screen would be nice.
"run solid for"? Next gen iPad pro, especially if it gets 8GB RAM, 10 years easily, even if Apple stops updating it eariler...
By then however battery may be an issue... Remember that Apple replaces battery (=swaps it with a "new" device) only until 5 years after they stop selling it... So going with the usal 1.5 rythm it would be 6-7 years from now... It's very reasonable to expect it receiving OS updates until then... So if you replace the battery by then, you can easily get 10 years. My 2015 iPad pro will be 6 year old this year... I replaced the battery in January and the CPU and RAM are still quite good, also 128GB is still decent. So I expect it to last easily 10 years in total, and probably more... (even if OS updates might stop at the 8th year)
By then however battery may be an issue... Remember that Apple replaces battery (=swaps it with a "new" device) only until 5 years after they stop selling it... So going with the usal 1.5 rythm it would be 6-7 years from now... It's very reasonable to expect it receiving OS updates until then... So if you replace the battery by then, you can easily get 10 years. My 2015 iPad pro will be 6 year old this year... I replaced the battery in January and the CPU and RAM are still quite good, also 128GB is still decent. So I expect it to last easily 10 years in total, and probably more... (even if OS updates might stop at the 8th year)
I think so too. 4-6 years is probably possible for most iPads. The Pro line will turn 6 later this year I think.
My 9.7(2016) still works great. I’ve not had any issues running any apps I’ve put on it.
Looking a bit dated with the larger bezels but other than that works awesome.
Looking a bit dated with the larger bezels but other than that works awesome.
Depends on system specs - mostly RAM and storage at this point. E.g. how much you use local storage and what you run on it. In reality, relatively few programs stress the current iPad lineup, although it does depend on how you use it.
My wife still has an iPad Mini she uses (in addition to an iPad Pro for teaching), while I only recently gave away my iPad Air 2 which was more or less doing fine still - I upgraded to an iPad Pro 12.9" third gen with keyboard, primarily to try to use it for more than a consumption device.
We don't really know what software is to come, but clearly more companies are targeting more full-featured apps to the iPads now that Apple has made it more 'laptop-like' in capabilities, but I'd certainly expect a current iPad or Pro to last at least 5 years in general.
My wife still has an iPad Mini she uses (in addition to an iPad Pro for teaching), while I only recently gave away my iPad Air 2 which was more or less doing fine still - I upgraded to an iPad Pro 12.9" third gen with keyboard, primarily to try to use it for more than a consumption device.
We don't really know what software is to come, but clearly more companies are targeting more full-featured apps to the iPads now that Apple has made it more 'laptop-like' in capabilities, but I'd certainly expect a current iPad or Pro to last at least 5 years in general.
iPads, with no moving parts, are pretty much indestructible. We bought a 64GB first version in 2010 and still use it as our 'Music Machine'. Hangs on a wall in the kitchen, connects via bluetooth to our speakers and works perfectly for it's now-limited purpose. It is odd to look at how much the interface has changed since it stopped getting updates with 10.3.3.
We have 2 or three iPads in a drawer somewhere we no longer use but they still work. My daily iPad is a 1st-gen iPad Pro 12.9 with cellular that we bought in 2015. Still works great. We use it for everything: it's great on random road trips to nowhere; so much map surface to figure out where we might go once we're officially lost.
So, yes, an iPad should last at least 4 years and keep doing what it does when you bought it. What will change is your expectation of the device.
We have 2 or three iPads in a drawer somewhere we no longer use but they still work. My daily iPad is a 1st-gen iPad Pro 12.9 with cellular that we bought in 2015. Still works great. We use it for everything: it's great on random road trips to nowhere; so much map surface to figure out where we might go once we're officially lost.
So, yes, an iPad should last at least 4 years and keep doing what it does when you bought it. What will change is your expectation of the device.
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The ipad will last years, but with IOS updates, the snappiness is gone after 2 years. I personally wouldn't 'invest extra' on an ipad!
That’s not my experience with my iPad Pro. It still feels snappy to use every day.
yeah, people apply their experience with older iPads to newer ones... Things have changed dramatically, and more recent iPads are much more future proof than they used to be...
Same here. My 9.7" Pro continues to work well. I'm intending to upgrade in the not to distant future to get more screen size, I'd like to get something compatible with the Pencil 2, spatial audio, etc. But I have kind of a hard time justifying it since I don't really need it. I don't think 4 years will be a problem with any current Apple Pro or for the Air 4. Given all the rumors of new Pro releases in the not to distant future I wouldn't buy a new Pro right now unless you REALLY NEED IT NOW or you find a screaming deal on it.
What do you mean? Apple site says it’s $99.
iPad Repair and Service - Apple Support
Need to repair your iPad? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.
What do you mean? Apple site says it’s $99.
iPad Repair and Service - Apple Support
Need to repair your iPad? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.support.apple.com
They don't replace just the battery though, they replace the whole iPad. If there's other damage, then you'd need to pay the OOW repair cost. Also, official battery replacement might be more difficult/impractical in some countries without a local Apple subsidiary.
I'm in the US so not an issue for me although I will be getting AC+. At $6/mo for what is likely going to be a $1800+ device after taxes, I like having the extra peace of mind.
Shortly after I updated my 9.7" iPad Pro to iOS 12, it started experiencing very poor battery life. Like the battery would drain very quickly, and barely made it halfway through the day. I took it to the apple store, but the diagnostic app used by the genius showed that my iPad's battery health was still at 94%, so it did not qualify for a battery replacement even though I was willing to pay (mainly because this basically entails replacing the entire iPad, unlike the iPhone).What do you mean? Apple site says it’s $99.
iPad Repair and Service - Apple Support
Need to repair your iPad? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.
On a side note, I had tried a couple of battery diagnostic apps on my iPad, which pegged battery health at around 80%, but these are third party apps that are not recognised by Apple.
I would end up upgrading to the 2018 11" iPad Pro towards the end of the year, which turned out to be for the better, because of the improved design of the smart keyboard and Apple Pencil, plus the better specs overall. But getting my iPad serviced due to a bad battery isn't so straightforward compared to the iPhone, in my experience at least.
Because Apple has a different definition of bad battery. This "battery replacement" is not profitable for them (they actually lose money apparently overall), so they don't do it to make money but as a service when the battery life make the device hardly usable...(for instance under 3 hours). And I think it's a nice bonus, since other manufacturers don't do it at all...
Glad to read that good stories about devices holding 5 years. This is pretty much how I want to use my current iPad Pro. I want to use it for at least 5 years. Given the price anything less than that is not that profitable for me. Also thanks for sharing the details about the battery replacements because I do think that I might need this at some point down the road. Luckily for now (1 year usage) the battery is doing great but you never know. I hope that it will last (offer good battery life) at least 3 years but we will see.
At least 4-5 years barring fo hardware failures. I used my 10.5 for 3 years. It was still working when I upgraded to the 11 inch pro.